A whirlwind

I am now officially on break after a crazy crazy week! I've been rehearsing for a show with Shanghai Repertory Theater called Snow Queen, I've been trying to keep up with my work at Ctrip, and I've been doing schoolwork (trying to, at least...)

As I mentioned, my mom and po-po are now here in Shanghai, which is amazing. The past few days due to my workload I've only seen them briefly at night. Today, though, we spent the day at the Fabric Market, wich was so much fun! You can read about my previous visit to the FabMark HERE. I'm getting a qi pao, or Chinese dress. Qi paos (also known as cheongsams) were originally loose, high-collared dresses worn by women but were sexified during the 1930s, when they became quite fitted and beautiful.

My expectation is that I will put my qi pao on and magically transform into Maggie Cheung of In the Mood for Love. If you haven't seen the movie, it's this absolutely stunning film about two married people in Hong Kong in the 1960s. The single most visually stunning movie I've ever seen. (Sorry, Avatar. Wong Kar Wai's got you beat.) Anyway, go to the library and check it out! I just bought a full collection of Wong Kar Wai's movies, which I'm SO STOKED about. He's an amazing filmmaker from Hong Kong who directed In the Mood for Love.

Anyway, after the Fabric Market we went to the Peace Hotel to use the bathrooms. The Peace Hotel is the most beautiful, Art-Deco-y, gorgeous hotel I've ever been in. Noel Coward stayed there when he wrote Private Lives. George Bernard Shaw also stayed there for a time.

This is a stained glass roof inside the Peace Hotel. Our tea was practically perfect. We each drank impeccable Earl Grey and nibbled on beautiful sandwiches and desserts. Highlights were the bacon quiche and some sort of puff pastry with meat inside. I felt so elegant and unlike myself. It was wonderful.

We walked along the Bund after our tea, then shopped along Nanjing Lu. The stores were lit up in their usual neon garishness, and it was lovely. Then we headed home, and I've been up working on a script I'm writing. I'm adapting one of Faulkner's short stories, and so far it's really cool and fun.

Tomorrow we're going to Hanzhou, a pretty town with a lake. We're taking the high-speed train! As you know, I love trains. Can't wait!